NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association CFS: Communicating For Safety National Aviation Leaders Come Together Join Aviation leaders at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, March 24-26, 2014 for Communicating for Safety. Hosted annually by the national Air Traffic Controllers Association, this three-day conference focuses on safety, technology and building industry relationships.
BELL Model 206L, L-1, L-3 and L-4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0525; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-063-AD; Amendment 39-17730; AD 2014-02-02] – requires measuring each main rotor (M/R) blade spar space to determine whether it is oversized and reidentifying the M/R blade and reducing the life limit of the blade if the spar spacer is oversized. This AD was prompted by the manufacture of certain blades with an oversized spar spacer and the determination to reduce the life limits of those blades.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135P2+ and EC135T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0634; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-023-AD; Amendment 39-17725; AD 2014-01-02] – requires inspecting the mechanical air conditioning system compressor bearing block upper bearing (upper bearing) for corrosion, leaking grease, condensation, or water. This AD was prompted by metallic debris from an upper bearing found in the air inlet areas of both engines in a Model EC135P2+ helicopter.
Gilbert W. Speed, the founder of SpeedNews publications and conferences, a sister business of Aviation Week, died Jan. 27 after a long illness. He was 81. Speed’s career in the aviation and aerospace industries stretched more than 60 years. He started as a student apprentice at the Bristol Aeroplane Co. —now part of BAE Systems —in 1952. Five years later, he moved to New York to work for Eastern Airlines as a development engineer for the DC-8 and Lockheed Electra.
FAA is incorporating changes that will streamline certain letters of authorization (LOAs) for Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) approval. The streamlined procedures are designed to ease and expedite the LOAs in cases of basic administrative changes, says Mark Larsen, the National Business Aviation Association’s senior manager, safety and flight operations.
SOCATA TBM700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0031; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-054-AD] – proposes to supersede AD 99-07-11, which required repetitive inspections of the fittings and, depending on findings, corrective action. That action stemmed from several reports of cracks in the outboard hinge fittings of the horizontal stabilizer. After that AD was issued, Socata determined that the cause of the cracks was a wrong installation of the fittings during production, inducing stress.
Ameriflight President and CEO Gary Richards, who founded the cargo operator more than 45 years ago, has sold the operation to Pebbles Aviation, LLC. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
SIKORSKY S-70, S-70A and S-70C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0636; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-065-AD; Amendment 39-17709; AD 2013-25-13] – establishes a new life limit based on a prorated formula for certain identified components (parts) installed on Model S-70, S-70A, and S-70C helicopters after being previously installed on certain military model helicopters.
Jan. 30, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Regional Forum, Signature Flight Support, Boca Raton Airport, Boca Raton, Fla., www.nbaa.org Feb. 4-6, 2014—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE, www.aviationweek.com/events Feb. 5-7, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Business Aircraft, Finance, Registration and Legal Conference, St. Pete Beach, Fla. www.nbaa.org Feb. 10, 2014—ATW’s 40th Anniversary Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore, speednews.com/all/conference
TURBOMECA ASTAZOU XIV B and XIV H [Docket No. FAA-2013-0575; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-21-AD; Amendment 39-17718; AD 2013-26-09] – requires replacement of the second-stage turbine disk. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the second-stage turbine disk. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent disk cracking, uncontained second-stage turbine blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter. FAA estimates that this AD will affect about six engines on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $41,910. The AD takes effect Feb. 14.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC225LP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0635; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-081-AD; Amendment 39-17720; AD 2013-26-11] – requires inspecting the swashplates for corrosion or a crack, and making the appropriate repairs or replacement of parts. This AD was prompted by the discovery of corrosion on the swashplates when the main rotor hub (MRH) assemblies were reconditioned. The actions of this AD are intended to detect corrosion or a crack in the swashplates, which could lead to failure of the swashplates and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
TAC Air reached an agreement in principal with the Omaha Airport Authority to build a new Customs and Border Protection facility next to the fixed-base operator’s executive terminal at Eppley Airfield in Nebraska (OMA). Construction of the 2,200-sq.-ft. facility is slated for completion in the second half of this year.
Vertis Aviation’s London charter broker business continues to rapidly grow as it celebrates its first anniversary since opening in January 2013. The Kensington office of Vertis Aviation UK Limited, headed by Managing Director and Vertis Aviation Partner Julian Burrell, brokered several hundred charters since launching, and is experiencing growth for charters to and from Russia and the Middle East. Vertis is also seeing a pickup in business from the oil and gas sector in West Africa, along with Central America and Mexico.
General Dynamics (GD) is crediting its Aerospace group, including both Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation, for serving as its primary growth engine for both earnings and revenues as the group posted significant gains both in the fourth quarter and on the year, and continued to receive strong bookings.
ROBERT RANDALL was appointed sales manager, U.S. for Universal Avionics. Randall will manage the company’s regional sales manager and oversee all authorized dealers in the U.S. He joined Universal Avionics in September 2008 as Midwest regional sales manager before becoming OEM sales manager in 2012. He came to the company with more than 30 years of avionics maintenance, testing, sales and management experience.
Bell Helicopter’s independent representative Heli-Charter signed an agreement for Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust to operate the Bell 429. The helicopter will be equipped for air ambulance operations – the second such equipped 429 to be operated in the U.K.
ROLLS-ROYCE RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-524H2-19 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-1004; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-17719; AD 2013-26-10] – requires a one-time reduction in the cyclic life of certain high-pressure (HP) compressor rotor stage 1 and stage 2 discs, and removal of discs that exceed the reduced cycle life. This AD was prompted by a review by RR of the cyclic life of life-limited parts (LLPs) for RB211-524 series engines.
Bombardier Aerospace is to lay off 1,700 employees in a bid to contain costs after stretching out CSeries development by at least 12 months and seeing business and commercial aircraft orders decline in 2013. Announced last week in an internal memo to employees, the layoffs will be split between 1,100 in Canada and 600 in the U.S. Plants in Northern Ireland and Mexico are unaffected, the company says.
Cobham, working in cooperation with Pro Star Aviation, secured FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for use of its Aviator 200 SwiftBroadband system aboard King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft. The STC covers King Air models B200, B200C and B300 (Super King Air 350) aircraft and includes activation of the Aviator 200s built-in Wi-Fi option. The Aviator is the smallest and lightest system in Cobham’s SwiftBroadband line. Pro Star also holds an STC for the Aviator 200 on Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA various PT6A turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-1009; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-35-AD] – proposes to require installing a reinforcement liner to the power turbine (PT) containment ring and, for certain PT containment rings, adding scallops. This proposed AD was prompted by in-service events involving the perforation of engine cases as a result of the liberation of PT blades and the fracture/displacement of the PT containment ring. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Helicopter Association International (HAI) fears that a provision calling on FAA to develop rulemaking covering helicopters operations over Los Angeles further establishes a precedent of allowing local noise concerns alone to dictate airspace design and access.
M7 AEROSPACE Models SA26-T, SA26-AT, SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-TT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, and SA227-DC (C-26B) airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2014-0023; Directorate Identifier FAA-2013-CE-048-AD] – proposes to require repetitively replacing and lubricating the aileron chain, sprocket, and bearings in the control columns. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of jamming of the aileron control cable chain in the pilot and copilot control columns due to inadequate lubrication and maintenance of the chain.
MATTHEW GREENE was appointed executive vice president for Safe Flight Instrument Corp. Greene has served with Safe Flight since October 2003, taking on roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently he was vice president of program management.
DANN RUNIK was promoted to executive director, advanced training programs for FlightSafety International. Runik joined FlightSafety in 2004 and most recently has been manager of OEM and customer relations at the company’s Learning Center in Savannah, Ga. He is also an instructor for Gulfstream aircraft and works with Gulfstream Aerospace on procedures and courseware development. He has also been a Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400 captain, flew for the Flying Tigers and worked on the Space Shuttle program as a staff engineer at Rockwell International.
